There Be Monsters In Time

By J Itchen

Time travel is impossible – is it not? This is what two Cambridge scientists just starting their romantic involvement argued. However they suddenly find themselves pulled back in time to 1641, the start of the English Civil War. Being in Cambridge they go to see Oliver Cromwell and receive a very charitable reception. Henry finds himself under Cromwell’s spell and joins him. Henry uses his knowledge of the war that he remembered from history books to guide Cromwell and fight by his side.

However, could he or should he change history? Are they just cogs in the circularity of history? What about Jane stuck as a spinster in the Cromwell household? What about their relationship and Henry’s with Cromwell’s daughter. How do twenty-first century people adapt to life in a seventeenth century war – morals and all? When they die in very different times and in very different circumstances they get an even bigger shock.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J Itchen
• Release date: Mar 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310429019

J Itchen

J is a graduate from Bristol University, England, who is married with four children. Currently lives in Southampton, England, although when young also lived in other parts of the world (Malaysia, Thailand, Yemen Arab Republic).J has been writing for several years mainly for magazines (more usually science rather than science fiction), for specialist books and recently a web site. Starting with science fiction (not fantasy), genres published have also covered the erotic, plus a combination of the two.

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There Be Monsters In Time

by J. Itchen

ISBN: 9781310429019

Published by J. Itchen at Smashwords

Copyright: ©2014, J. Itchen, all rights reserved

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1 - Cambridge, England, 2013

Henry sat on a bench overlooking the river Cam, looking at Jane standing on the bank. She looked very attractive to him in her pretty long summer bright blue dress ready for the evening Ball. Her long shoulder length light brown hair framed a petite face. Henry guessed that she was just less than thirty years old. She had put on a thick coat for the potentially cool evening ahead but it was really quite mild spring weather at the moment so she had undone it, showing off her strapless dress and curves underneath. She also had some slightly incongruous sturdy shoes on for the walk. The outside gear contrasted with the ear-rings and necklace and bracelet that Jane was wearing.

Thanks for coming for the walk with me, Henry said, I needed a break from the silly science being discussed back there. Henry was not going to the Ball, in fact he hated formal Balls. He was simply in blue jeans, shirt, sweater and a large red anorak. Some women considered him handsome, he thought, being thin, dark haired and reasonably tall with no obvious physical flaws. How had Amy described him to Jane – a hunk?

Yes, you seemed to get hot under the collar when they suggested that time travel should be possible. Jane replied with a grin.

It’s absolute rubbish Henry agreed. Going back in time would create so many logical contradictions that it is scientific tripe even to suggest it is possible. Time is simply the observed rate of change in the physical world.

They were talking about the experiment to send the apes forward in time, not back, Jane reminded him.

It’s the same principle, Henry replied. The only way to travel forward in time is to go into some sort of suspension and then pop out of it in a few years’ time. That is not real time travel, just existing in suspension for many years. That may be possible, but please do not call it time travel.

John insisted that it will be time travel, Jane said, still smiling at Henry for getting so agitated about it. Not some sort of suspended animation, but real relocation of two apes to many years in the future.

That is scientific drivel! Henry exploded, not for the first time that afternoon. Next they will be telling me that time did not exist before the Big Bang, as if that makes sense!

They are doing the time travel experiment today, here in Cambridge, Jane reminded him. If the apes disappear, who knows where they will have gone.

The experiment should be banned, Henry growled. Those poor apes could indeed go somewhere, but not into the future, and wherever they go they could well end up dead!

Anyway, let’s get back to the others, Jane smiled kindly at Henry and held out her hand to encourage him to stand up.

Henry was please that she had offered her hand and he took it to stand up. Maybe he could keep hold of her hand for a while, maybe a kiss, and then, who knows? Hopefully he would see more of her natural beauty today, a lot more. This was a nice secluded spot and he did not want to head back yet.

At that moment the whole world seemed to rotate about him. Or rather, about the both of them, as strangely Jane seemed to be in the vortex with him. It was not the same as he sometimes got when he stood up suddenly when things went a bit dim and slightly dizzy. That was his low blood pressure, but this was different.

Henry kept his hand in Jane’s but held up his other one to his eyes. Gradually the feeling of revolving at high speed dispersed and he opened his eyes again.

Jane had sunk to her knees onto the grass, but still held his hand. Henry felt very dizzy and stood with his legs wide apart for stability.

Henry looked about him. His surroundings had changed! Instead of a path surfaced with small stones by the river and the bench he had just stood up from, there were loads of trees. The river was still there and there was a sort of rough beaten path. The one bit that had not changed was a short section of surface path that they were on. There was a sharp delineation between the surfaced path and the beaten earth path which also extended to the shorter maintained grass where Henry was and the unkempt around beyond.

Also the sounds had changed subtly. Instead of a far off drone of traffic there was nothing but the sound of several birds chirping nearby that were not there a few minutes ago and a breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. Most odd was that the sun seemed to be in a different position as if it was morning and not afternoon. Plus it was less cloudy. The more he looked the more different it all seemed, and different in weird unsettling ways.

What happened then? Henry asked. Did I pass out?

I was going to ask you exactly the same thing, Jane said as she struggled to stand up again, letting go of his hand. She looked about her, very confused.

You mean that you did not bring me here when I went all woozy? Henry said.

It was me who went woozy! Jane countered. She looked suspiciously at him as if he was to blame for something. Everything seems to have changed. What happened?

I don’t know, Henry responded and looked down the path. It is all different in dramatic ways except for the small area where we are standing. I suggest that we follow this path by the river as if we were where we were a minute ago and see where it leads us. That is, if you feel up to walking.

I can do it, Jane said, looking very unsteady on her feet, I think. You are sure that you did not carry me off somewhere else when I went woozy?

No, Henry said determinedly, I was woozy as well at the same time.

They slowly moved along. The one good thing about this, Henry thought, was that they still held hands. Henry fancied Jane and having an adventure with her could be good. He would try to keep hold of her hand.

They came to the edge of the trees and they both stood rooted to the spot. Henry stared. Jane stared. In front of them stood King’s College chapel, and to one side there was Clare College. But they were not like they had left them less than half an hour ago. They looked in one way newer, but everything around them was shabbier. There were no well laid straight paths but meandering areas where the soil was worn down and little bushes of heather grew where just earlier there had been manicured lawns.

Have we gone forward in time as well? Jane managed to ask. There was no denying the evidence of their eyes and the reality of the change had started to hit them both.

Don’t be silly Henry said unconvincingly. If so the future is very shabby and it looks more like the past to me. Henry’s stomach felt like it was churning. It was all too real to be a dream.

Now you are being silly, Jane responded. We know time travel is ridiculous, but wait a minute, who is that there? She pointed.

Henry looked and he could see someone with a beard, an old fashioned soft hat and a thick coat that went down to his shins.

Let’s ask him, Henry said boldly and stepped forward, pulling Jane’s hand as he did so.

They approached the man who had stopped stock still when he saw them. Jane let go of his hand again. Henry wondered if the man was about to bolt away from them. The look of consternation on the man’s face was almost comical. It matched what Henry felt inside as well.

Whither doth you come from? the man asked them in a strangled gasp as they approached.

We were just walking by the river, Henry said gaily. What has happened here? Is there something on?

You doth sound strange, the bearded man said. And you art as strangers. Whither do you come from? Are you devils?

We are just visiting Cambridge, Jane said helpfully. We are friends.

Art you Christians? the man asked.

We are scientists…. Henry began.

We come from Christian families, Jane butted in.

Catholic or Protestant? the man insisted.

Protestant, Jane said.

I bid thee welcome, the man said, bowing his head very slightly. We have many puritans here.

Henry wondered why he mentioned the puritans. Maybe they would not like Jane’s dress nor his bright blue jeans.

What year is it? Henry asked. Was this all pretend and part of a re-enactment?

The year of our Lord sixteen hundred and forty-one, the man said, looking at them oddly again.

What, just before the Civil War? Henry blurted.

The man looked like he might make a dash for it, but he responded, There be no war here, although we live in troubled times.

Now come on, Henry said. That’s enough of this play-acting. We will just go into town and see if we can find the others. He bustled past the man, pulling Jane along with him by the hand again, and headed down the side of King’s College. This path did not used to be here, the road went further to the left and they were walking where a building should be.

The man turned to watch them go.

As Henry and Jane walked the scenery did not update to the early twenty-first century. In fact it just became grubbier. When they reached the other side of King’s College chapel the road was not paved at all, just a very muddy wide track. Coming down the road were two men on horseback.

Look out for the horse shit, Jane remarked. There is loads of it about. I felt sick even before I saw all this.

I think that someone has gone a bit far with their historic realism re-enactment, Henry said. However I agree with you that it all must be horse shit. He did not even convince himself.

Hail, strangers, one of the men on horseback said, pulling his horse to a stop in front of them. Whence are you from?

What year is this? Henry demanded.

The fifth day of June in the year of our Lord sixteen hundred and forty-one years, at last count, the horseman said. Whence are you from?

We come from afar, Jane said. We seek out Oliver Cromwell.

Henry stared at her. Then he realised that this could be a way to join in the play acting and get out of the elaborate farce.

Oliver is a good friend, the Horseman said. But prithee can I help? Mister Cromwell is in London as he is at Parliament. I fear that you have come a long way and may have to wait to see him for some days or weeks.

Where does he live? Henry asked.

In St Ives, the horseman said. You need to go by horse and be speedy if you wish to get there today.

Is there a carriage that goes that way? Jane asked.

I knowst not who may go there by carriage, the horseman said. You speak strangely. Whence are you from?

I wonder that they be foreign, the second horseman suddenly joined in. With strange attire and odd speech I surmise maybe that they be Germans.

Not French then, the first horseman asked them directly, narrowing his eyes.

German, yes German, Jane said hurriedly.

We welcome good Protestants here, the horseman said.

Prithee where will we find horses? Henry said, trying to join in the spirit yet change the subject.

You have none? the horsemen looked at each other in surprise. Clearly travellers should have horses.

You can get horses from the back of the tavern over yonder, the horseman pointed. Then with a friendly wave they urged their horses forward through the mud.

Can you ride? Jane muttered to Henry as the horsemen moved ahead of them.

No, Henry said. Can you?

Yes. You may have to learn quickly.

You will have to teach me, Henry said. We will both have a lot to learn here, and we will need to do it quickly.

Can we bring something from 2013 that we can use to gain income in 1641? Jane wondered. That is if we presume for a moment that somehow we are in 1641 now.

I don’t think that my expertise in biochemical research will be much good in 1641, Henry said looking put out by the idea. They do not even know about atoms yet. And what is you speciality? Psychology isn’t it?

Very good, you did listen to me, Jane laughed. Maybe I could study the psychology of civil wars and try to deal with people’s hang-ups.

"Will they pay